Dry spigot lamps

ABSTRACT

A dry spigot structure may be provided with solid conductors of light suggesting water issuing from that dry spigot structure, and a light source may be positioned inside the dry spigot structure or otherwise for illumination of the solid conductors from time to time.

CROSS REFERENCE

This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/728,553, filed Jul. 11,1991, and herewith incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to electric illumination and electriclamps and, more specifically, to novelty items using peculiarly shapedlamp holders in a suggestive combination with electric light bulbs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,126, by Kessener et al, issued Jun. 7, 1988,proposes a spectacular display of lighting by guiding light through astream of water issuing into ambient atmosphere and directed toilluminate an object and/or turbulent water. The guided light isefficiently concentrated on the object and/or the turbulent water. Asstated in that patent, that proposal belongs to a class of methods andapparatus which provide water jets with luminous displays.

While such aquatic luminous displays can be very impressive, they failto address a more intellectual human need of reaching a pictorialimpression through thought stimulation by a suggestive combination ofobjects which, in the subject case, would provide at least backroundillumination without a splashing of any liquid and the problems andexpenses attendant thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of this invention to meet the needs stated aboveor otherwise mentioned herein.

It is also an object of this invention to provide improved methods andapparatus for illuminating a space.

It is a germane object of this invention to provide improved dryelectric lamps.

It is a related object of this invention to provide electric lamps thatevoke impressions by thought stimulations by a combination of elementsin a suggestive manner. Other objects may become apparent in the furthercourse of this disclosure.

The subject invention resides in methods of illuminating a space with alight bulb, wherein that light bulb is stuck out of the open mouth of aspout of a dry spigot structure.

From a related aspect thereof, the subject invention resides inapparatus for illuminating a space with a light bulb having a light bulbbase, comprising, in combination, a dry electrified water spigotstructure having a hollow spout with an open mouth, an electric lampsocket in that spout, and electric wiring extending to that lamp socket.According to that aspect of the invention, the electric lamp socket hasan opening for the light bulb base at the open mouth of the spout sothat the light bulb sticks out of that dry spigot structure when thelight bulb base is in the electric lamp socket. In practice, thisincludes the possibility of alternatingly withdrawing the light bulbinto, and sticking the light bulb out of, the open mouth of the spout.

The invention also resides in methods of illuminating a space with alight source, comprising, in combination, providing a dry spigotstructure with solid conductors of light suggesting water issuing fromthat dry spigot structure, and positioning the light source forillumination of the solid conductors from time to time.

The invention similarly resides in apparatus for illuminating a spacewith a light source, comprising, in combination, a dry spigot structure,and solid conductors of light issuing from that dry spigot structure.The light source in that case is positioned for illumination of thesolid conductors from time to time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject invention and its various aspects and objects may becomemore readily apparent from the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of example in theencompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals, or referencenumerals raised by one or more hundreds, designate like or equivalentparts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a dry electric lamp according to an embodimentof the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through the lamp of FIG. 2 showing an embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with another lamp base according toan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an electric lamp according to anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an electric lamp according to yet anotherembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a modification thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The drawings illustrate methods and show apparatus 10, 110, 210 and 310for illuminating a space 12 with a light bulb 13. According to anembodiment of the invention, such as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to4, the light bulb 13 is stuck out of the open mouth 14 of a spout 15 or115 of a dry spigot structure 16 or 116.

According to the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the openmouth 14 and the stuck out light bulb 13 are directed downwardly.

In principle, the light bulb 13 may be an incandescent, florescent,phosphorescent, luminescent or other source of light. A filament 17 isshown in FIG. 2 to suggest an incandescent light bulb as the currentlyconceived best mode of carrying the invention into effect.

The light bulb 13 preferably is shaped in the manner of a drop of waterprotruding out of the spout 15 as seen, for instance in FIG. 1. Thisparticularly well addresses an intellectual human need of reaching aconcrete pictorial impression through thought stimulation by asuggestive combination of objects which, in the subject case, comprise adry spigot structure, such as shown at 16 and 116, and a light bulb 13projecting from a simulated water outlet 15 thereof, preferably in ashape suggesting a large drop of water. In this manner the resultinglamps, such as the lamps 10 and 110 provide at least backroundillumination without any splashing of water or other liquid and withoutthe problems and expenses attendant thereto.

The desired effect is particularly strong when the dry spigot structureis shaped in the form of a faucet as shown at 10 in FIGS. 1 to 3, havingpreferably a downwardly directed spout 15, and the light bulb 13 isstuck out of that downwardly directed spout.

An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 where the dry spigot isshaped in the form of a showerhead shown at 110, having a spout 115, andthe light bulb 13 is stuck out of that spout.

FIGS. 1 to 4 thus illustrate two specific examples of the versatility ofthe subject invention.

According to the illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention, thedry spigot structure 16 or 116 has a simulated water flow actuator 18 or118, and the light bulb 13 is actuated with that simulated water flowactuator. Within the scope of that embodiment, the light bulb 13 may beturned on and off by actuating a simulated water flow actuator. Forinstance, if the actuator is a rotary tap or handle 18, a rotaryelectric switch coupled to a shaft 19 of that handle may be provided forthat purpose inside the spigot or faucet 16. If the actuator is apushbutton or slide 118, an electric pushbutton or slide switch may beused for that purpose, having for instance a solidly illustratedposition in which the lamp is switched off, and alternative positionshown in dotted lines at 218, in which the lamp is switched on.

Alternatively or additionally, the simulated water flow actuator may beused to move the light bulb 13 relative to the spout 15. For instance,the tap or rotary handle 18 may be used to actuate a mechanism 20 whichalternatively withdraws the light bulb into, and sticks that light bulb13 out of, the open mouth 14 of the spout 15, as indicated by a dottedoutline 21.

The drawings specifically show the bulb 13 as having a light bulb base22. These apparatus 10 and 110 comprise in combination, a dryelectrified water spigot structure 16 or 116 having a hollow spout 15 or115 with an open mouth 14 and an electric lamp socket 23 in that spout,shown by way of example in FIG. 2. Electric wiring 24 may extend to thatlamp socket.

Such electric lamp socket has an opening 24 for for the light bulb base23 at the open mouth 14 of the spout 15 so that the light bulb sticksout or can stick out of the dry spigot structure when its light bulbbase 22 is in the electric lamp socket 23.

The light bulb has an on-off or a dimmer switch 26 in its electricwiring 24 including the simulated water flow actuator 18 or 118 on thedry electrified water spigot structure 16 or 116. Alternatively oradditionally, the light bulb moving mechanism 20 in the dry electrifiedwater spigot structure may include the simulated water flow actuator 18as well.

For example, a threaded spindle 27, as in a water faucet, may be used toactuate the switch 26. A pivoted lever 28 may be used for that purposeand also for suspending the lamp 13 via lamp socket 23, such as shown inFIG. 2.

The tap or handle 18 and spindle 27 may be rotated so that the shaft 19moves upwardly along its longitudinal axis and the lever 28 moves to itsdotted position 29. This closes the normally open switch 26, energizingthe light bulb 13 to shine, and lowers such light bulb to its dottedposition 21. Conversely, if the tap or handle 18 is rotated in theopposite direction, the bulb 13 is withdrawn into the spout 15 and theswitch is again opened, whereby the bulb is deenergized. The mechanism20 is not the only means for alternatingly withdrawing the light bulbinto, and sticking that light bulb out of the open mouth of the spoutwithin the scope of the invention. Various mechanisms for moving lampshave become known over the years. Reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No.1,448,640, by H. J. Seely, issued Mar. 13, 1923 for a reflector, U.S.Pat. No. 1,464,382, by R. M. Eaton, issued Aug. 7, 1923 for amechanically adjustable electric lamp, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,031, byK. Liebegott, issued Aug. 3, 1982 for a lamp adjusting device.

Also FIG. 4 shows by a dotted outline 31 how the spout 115 may be moveddownwardly until it covers or shades the bulb 13. It may thus be seenthat the phrase "withdrawing the light bulb into the spout" is arelative phrase covering not only movement of the bulb relative to thespout, but also movement of the spout relative to the bulb or, in otherwords, movement of bulb and spout relative to each other.

The lighting apparatus 10 and 110 may have a lamp base for the dryelectrified water spigot structure 16 or 116, such as the wall base 32shown in FIG. 1 or the piping 134 shown in FIG. 4, which may also beprovided with a wall base 32 as shown in FIG. 1. An example of alighting fixture to which the simulated showerhead may be attached isapparent from U.S. Design Patent 226,325, by R. B. Poff, issued Feb. 13,1973.

Alternatively, the lighting apparatus may have a lamp stand for said dryelectrified water spigot structure 16 or 116, such as the lamp stand 35having simulated water piping 34 and a floor or table base 132. Anotherexample of a lamp base may be seen from U.S. Design Patent 173,470, byH. A. Barnacle, issued Nov. 16, 1954.

As shown in FIG. 1, an electric power source or battery 36 may beprovided in the lamp base 32. Alternatively, an electric cord 37 may beprovided, such as shown in FIG. 3 for the base 132, in order to supplyelectricity to the lamp 10 or 110 and bulb 13.

Methods and apparatus of illuminating a space with a light source 313according to embodiments of a different aspect of the invention areshown by way of example in FIGS. 5 and 6.

These embodiments provide a dry spigot structure 210 or 310 with solidconductors 243 of light suggesting water issuing from that dry spigotstructure. The light source 313 may be a bulb or other light source andis positioned for illumination of the solid conductors from time totime.

The light conductors 243 are designated as solid, which is an adjectiveoften used in contradistinction to fluid or liquid. Accordingly, thelight conductors may be rigid or flexible, as long as they are not fluidor liquid. By way of example, the light conductors may be colorless orcolored rods of transparent or translucent material, optical fibers, orother rigid or flexible light conductors.

Also, by way of example, FIGS. 5 and 6 show the dry spigot structure 210or 310 in the form or shape of a simulated showerhead 216 or 316 havingsimulated water outlet openings, such as shown at 314 in FIG. 6, wherethe solid conductors of light 243 are stuck out of such simulated wateroutlet openings. The same structural arrangement may be employed in theembodiment of FIG. 5. In this or any other manner, solid conductors 243are positioned to issue from an area 215 of the dry spigot structurewherefrom water would be issuing in a similar wet spigot structure. Itis, of course, well known that water would issue from the mouth 14 ofthe spigot 16 or showerhead 116, or from the outlet openings 314 of theshowerhead 216 or 316, if these spigot structures were actual spigots,faucets or showerheads. Accordingly, light conductors in the currentlydiscussed embodiment of the invention are issued out of the openings 14or 314, such as the dry or solid light conductors 243 simulating theissuance of water, particularly when illuminated from the outside orfrom the inside of the dry spigot structure.

At least according to FIG. 6, the light source 313 is located inside thesimulated showerhead 316 for illuminating the solid conductors of light243. The light source 313 in particular may be positioned adjacent endsof the solid conductors of light 243 inside the dry spigot structure orshowerhead 316 as shown in FIG. 6. A lamp socket 423 may be used forthat purpose.

Like the simulated showerhead 116, the dry spigot structure 210 orshowerhead 216 has a simulated water flow actuator 318 which may againcomprise an electrical pushbutton or slide switch, and the light source,such as the bulb 313, is actuated with that simulated water flowactuator, such as indicated at 418. The light source may be turned onand off by actuating the simulated water flow actuator 318 or by asimulated water flow actuator 518. In this respect, the simulated waterflow actuator may be provided on the dry spigot structure, as shown forthe structure 210 or 216 and the electric lamp switch 318 in FIG. 5.

Alternatively, the simulated water flow actuator may be spaced from thedry spigot structure, such as shown for the structure 310 or 316 and therotatable actuator 518 in FIG. 6. By way of example, FIG. 6 shows anactuator 518, similar to the actuator 18, acting on a switch 326,similar to the switch 26 shown in FIG. 2, except that the switch 326 maybe a normally open switch that is closed by rotation of the actuator 518to energize the light source 313 through wiring 324 extending through acurved conduit 334.

By way of example, the rotatable electric actuator 518 may be located ina wall 142 to which the simulated showerhead conduit 134 or 334 isattached in any suitable manner. The switch 326 may then be in a box 343in that wall 142, and electrical conduits (not shown) may be used toaccommodate the wiring 324 inside the wall. Within the scope of suchembodiment, the conduit 334 may extend to the switch box 343 eitherinside or outside of the wall, as desired.

The subject extensive disclosure will render apparent or suggest tothose skilled in the art various other modifications and variationswithin the spirit and scope of the subject invention and equivalentsthereof.

We claim:
 1. A method of illuminating a space with a light source,comprising in combination:providing a dry spigot structure with solidconductors of light suggesting water issuing from said dry spigotstructure; and positioning said light source for illumination of saidsolid conductors from time to time.
 2. A method as in claim 1,wherein:said light source is positioned inside said dry spigotstructure; and said solid conductors are positioned to issue from anarea of said dry spigot structure wherefrom water would be issuing in asimilar wet spigot structure.
 3. A method as in claim 2, wherein:saidlight source is positioned adjacent ends of said solid conductors oflight inside said dry spigot structure.
 4. A method as in claim 1,wherein:said dry spigot structure has a simulated water flow actuator;and said light source is actuated with said simulated water flowactuator.
 5. A method as in claim 4, wherein:said light source is turnedon and off by actuating said simulated water flow actuator.
 6. A methodas in claim 4, wherein:said simulated water flow actuator is provided onsaid dry spigot structure.
 7. A method as in claim 4,said simulatedwater flow actuator is spaced from said dry spigot structure.
 8. Amethod as in claim 1,said dry spigot is shaped in the form of asimulated showerhead having simulated water outlet openings; said solidconductors of light are stuck out of said simulated water outletopenings; and said light source is located inside said simulatedshowerhead for illuminating said solid conductors of light.
 9. Apparatusfor illuminating a space with a light source, comprising incombination:a dry spigot structure; and solid conductors of lightissuing from said dry spigot structure; said light source positioned forillumination of said solid conductors from time to time.
 10. Apparatusas in claim 9, having:said solid conductors issuing from an area of saiddry spigot structure wherefrom water would be issuing in a similar wetspigot structure.
 11. Apparatus as in claim 10, having:said light sourcepositioned adjacent ends of said solid conductors of light inside saiddry spigot structure.
 12. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein:said dryspigot structure has a light source actuator connected thereto andincluding a simulated water flow actuator.
 13. Apparatus as in claim 12,wherein:said simulated water flow actuator is on said dry spigotstructure.
 14. Apparatus as in claim 12, having:said simulated waterflow actuator spaced from said dry spigot structure.
 15. Apparatus as inclaim 9, wherein:said light source has an on-off switch connectedthereto and including a simulated water flow actuator.
 16. Apparatus asin claim 9, wherein:said dry spigot has a shape of a simulatedshowerhead having simulated water outlet openings; said solid conductorsof light stick out of said simulated water outlet openings; and saidlight source is inside said simulated showerhead, whereby to illuminatesaid solid conductors of light.